Page 130 of Love Notes & Lifelines
“The entire town is out there.”
He chuckles and it vibrates against my ribs. “They are. I told you weddings are a big deal around here, but they’re here because they care. About you, the girls, me. They care about us, sweetheart.”
“Did you miss them while you were gone?”
His gaze flicks over my head to the crowd gathering at the edge of the beach.
“I didn’t allow myself to remember—there’s so much I blocked out, Stella, and even more from my childhood that I should have memories of and don’t. But the more time I spend here, the more they attempt to make an appearance. And yeah, I missed them so much it hurts. I thought that by running away the pain of betrayal would stop. It was foolish. All it did was bottle it up and fester, rotting me from the inside out.”
“I’m worried about the girls,” I admit. “I’m scared for the next hearing, and I can’t stop thinking about what will happen to them if Danica succeeds.”
He squeezes me tighter. “Me too. But I’m holding on to faith. Cally left them to me for a reason. That must count for something.”
“Knock, knock,” Elijah says, interrupting our conversation.
We haven’t had much alone time—ever. Not with Emmy’s sudden nightmares and Ruby teething. Not with the chaos that surrounded the house the second we put wedding wheels in motion. But I don’t feel disconnected. If anything, I feel closer to Beck than I’ve ever felt to anyone.
Maybe it’s waking up in the cocoon of his arms every morning. I’ve never done that before. Silas never stayed over, and my previous boyfriend wasn’t a snuggler. I’ve never felt so safe in all my life.
“Hi, Elijah.” I retreat from Beck’s embrace.
“She’s peaceful,” he says, nodding toward my mother.
“I hope so.” It’s the greatest gift anyone has ever given me, this time with her, and it’s all thanks to the man holding my hand.
“Everything’s ready when you two are.”
The grin that slides across Beck’s face is unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed before—and the way it warms me is an experience in itself. He beams like sunshine on a rainy day.
“You ready?” Beck asks. He’s bouncing on his toes. Is he nervous? Excited?
“Are you?” I ask hesitantly, taking in his behavior.
“Sweetheart, I’m so ready my skin is trying to go ahead without me. I’m so ready the excitement is a ticking time bomb in my gut. I’m so ready?—”
“We get the idea,” Elijah laughs. “And I never thought I’d see the day.”
Beck scoffs in response, but it doesn’t dim his shine.
Music begins and wafts up from the beach.
“Oliver has been waiting for this day since I was a kid,” Beck says with so much enthusiasm I’d worry he were drunk if I hadn’t been with him all afternoon. “I thought I was going to be a radio DJ when I was a kid. I spent a lot of time in his studio.”
I peer over his shoulder at the crowd gathering for our rehearsal dinner. Wanda stands at the very edge, staring at the sky with her finger pointed in the air while Tabby and Bella scurry between people, arranging last-minute decorations. There’s a screen down the beach that will play a montage of photos we’ve gathered of our families and others that we’ve taken over the last couple of days in as many different outfits as we could manage—it’s the photos of all of us that make my eyes well with happiness.
“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” Beck says again and when his gaze captures mine, I know he’s right.
“It just feels weird. Like things are going too well. I can’t help waiting for the floor to crumble beneath me.”
“Nothing is crumbling tonight. Tonight is about you and me and the girls.”
“And fun,” Elijah adds with a sly grin. “Don’t forget the fun.”
“Where’s Samira?” I ask.
“Oh, don’t worry about her. She’s down there talking yoga with poor Leo.”
“I’m glad you’re both here.” My body heats as they stare at me. “And I, I kind of have a favor to ask.”
